The annual event, now in its twelfth year, recognises the achievements and hard work of local authority recycling officers and their colleagues and partners during the past 12 months.
Judged by a panel of experts from across the waste management industry and local authorities, the awards will be handed out at the virtual LARAC conference on 14 and 15 October.
Carole Taylor, LARAC chair, said: “Despite this being a strange year, the judges were very impressed with the high standard of entries.
“This shows that local authorities are not only resilient and hard working in challenging times, but that they continue to make a difference and go above and beyond to achieve excellent results.
“We would have liked to give them an all award if possible, so a big thank you to all that entered and good luck to those shortlisted.”
Previous winners include Catherine Causley, Devon county council’s reuse project officer (see letsrecycle.com story). Ms Causley received a prize for an Outstanding Contribution to Recycling after setting up a range of programmes including Devon Reuse Week, Devon Upcycling Day, WEEE repair events and the Big Fix, which broke the world record for the most items fixed at one repair café.
Conference
The LARAC conference has been held annually for 29 years and this was due to be the event’s second year at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.
“Despite this being a strange year, the judges were very impressed with the high standard of entries”
The 2020 LARAC conference is to take place online due to ongoing safety concerns relating to the coronavirus pandemic (see letsrecycle.com story). It will mark LARAC’s first foray into the world of virtual events.
This year’s programme sees speakers from across the sector covering a wide range of topics, from the resources and waste strategy to extended producer responsibility (EPR).
The opening session will feature an update from Chris Preston, deputy director at Defra, a presentation from Lee Marshall on the LARAC response to the resources and waste strategy consultations, and a keynote address, delivered by Professor Richard Thompson OBE, a marine expert at the University of Plymouth. Professor Thompson will address the topic of plastics and their impact on the environment, with reference to the oceans.
The event will feature several workshops, including a communications workshop delivered by Chris Dessent of Creative Concern and a session looking at the textiles stream provided by WRAP and Recycling Now.
LARAC member councils can register for the conference and awards for FREE. Conference tickets for other attendees can be purchased for just £160 + VAT here.
FINALISTS SHORTLIST 2020
BEST COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Contenur
Bristol Waste Company | Litter Hurts
Medway Council | HWRC: Reopening after Covid-19 Lockdown
West London Waste Authority | West London’s Food Waste Campaign
Westminster City Council | Food Waste Recycling Trial
BEST PARTNERSHIP OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Viridor
Cheshire West and Chester Council | Poets Estate
Croydon Council | Pet Food Pouch Recycling Project
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council | Defeating Dudley’s Mattress Mountain
Resource London and Peabody Housing Association
BEST TEAM OF THE YEAR
Cheshire West and Chester Council
London Borough of Hillingdon
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
West Berkshire Council
BEST WASTE MINIMISATION OR PREVENTION PROJECT – sponsored by REPIC
Bristol Waste | Bristol #WasteNothing Challenge
Bristol Waste | The Reuse Shop, Bristol
Cornwall Council | Cornwall Repair Café Network
Hackney Council | #ZeroWasteHackney, Go Beyond Recycling
BEST NEW IDEA – sponsored by MGB/Straight
Buckinghamshire Council
Cheshire West and Chester Council
Cornwall Council
Suffolk County Council
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO RECYCLING
Julie Hughes, Cheshire West and Chester Council
Tina Norman-Ross, Guernsey Waste
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